Container for hanger-supported clothing



Jan. 14, 1969 w. B. CRANE 3,421,614

CONTAINER FOR HANGER-SUPPORTED CLOTHING Filed Jab. 12, 1967 I Sheet of 2 I124 mv E 624w: M

Jan. 14, 1969 w, CRANE 3,421,614

CONTAINER" FOR HANGER-SUPPORTED CLOTHING Filed Jan. 12, 1967 Sheet L of 2 1.? l/l/I/l/II/Il-II fi\\ \\\\I\IK\\\\\\\'\\\\\\\\\\ K\\\\\\\ v y INVENTOR. 14 4470 5 65441: 1

United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container assembly for hanger-supported garments embodying a reinforced container and a specially constructed hanger bar removably mounted in the container at its upper end. The container bar is adapted to be used independently of the container in the storage and handling of the garments, both prior to installation of the bar supporting the hangers with the garments in the container and after its removal therefrom.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an improved, relatively lowcost container assembly for use in the storage, handling, and shipping of garments hung on hangers. More particularly, the invention relates to a container assembly of this type, which assembly embodies a hanger bar removably mounted in the container and adapted to be used to advantage independently of the container in the storage and handling of the garments, as well as to support the hangers while in the container.

It is common practice in the garment industry to ship many garments in folded conditions in disposable paperboard boxes. Such a procedure has significant disadvantages. In the course of manufacture of garments, they are pressed and put on hangers. When they are subsequently folded and put in boxes for storage and shipment, they are unavoidably wrinkled and crushed. As a result, it is frequently necessary for the merchant to press and refurbish them after receipt in order to put them back in an attractive condition for display to the purchasing public. This is a time consuming and costly procedure and quite obviously an annoyance to all concerned.

Certain types of garments are shipped within limited areas on their hangers on open racks in the shiping vehicle. This method is inherently costly both from the standpoint that maximum use cannot be made of the available space and from the standpoint that loading and unloading are unduly time consuming. Even then, the garments are either constantly exposed so as to be susceptible of being soiled or must be protected with a disposable covering, such as those conventionally formed of paper or plastic. With the latter expedient, costs are of course further increased.

Summary of the invention The container assembly of the invention overcomes the problems of the prior art and makes possible the convenient and efficient storage, handling, and shipping of hanger-supported garments. This is achieved by providing a low-cost, disposable container assembly comprising an appropriately sized container, preferably formed from a single blank of paperboard stock, and a hanger bar removably mounted in the container. To afford adequate strength, yet to enable maximum use to be made of relatively lightweight and hence, inexpensive material, the container is reinforced at its upper end where added strength is needed. Such reinforcing means additionally serve as hand grips to facilitate handling of the loaded container assembly.

The hanger bar is removably mounted in the container at its upper end for supporting a number of hangers with their garments. The container and hanger bar cooperate in such a manner that the container may be quickly and easily slipped over the bar when the latter is fully loaded with hanger-supported garments and the hanger bar mounted in position. Once installed, means on the hanger bar engageable with the container serve to hold it in place. The opposite ends of the container are closed by cover and bottom flaps folded inwardly and secured in place.

Garments stored in the container assembly hang freely on their hangers from the hanger bar within the closed container and are protected against being soiled, wrinkled, or crushed. Handling of the garments is greatly facilitated, since the container assembly carrying a large number of them may be conveniently gripped. The loaded container assemblies may be stacked so as to make efficient use of both storage space and space within the shipping vehicle. Moreover, once the garments are received by the merchant, it is simply necessary to take them out of the container and put them on the display racks, thus eliminating the need for pressing and refurbishing them.

Another important feature of the invention is the removable nature of the hanger bar which enables it to be used independently of the container in thehandling of the garments both before and after shipment. In this connection, holding fingers are provided in the hanger bar adjacent its ends to insure that hangers, particularly those at the ends, are not forced off of the hanger bar as it is tilted in the course of handling, as when being transferred by a conveying system having both upgrade and downgrade sections.

The container assembly of the invention is highly economical, being capable of being manufactured from relatively low-cost materials and by mass production techniques. As a result, it is economically feasible to dispose of it after a single use.

Brief description of the drawings The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following detailed description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view contracted vertically of the container assembly constructed in accordance with the invention and having the cover flaps of the container folded back to show the hanger bar supporting hangers;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view contracted horizontally and on an enlarged scale of the hanger bar of FIGURE 1 with one side thereof in place on the container and the other side shown free of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the entire container assembly in a closed and sealed condition;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 with portions of the containers removed in order to show the structure of the hanger bar more clearly;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the hanger bar taken in the direction of the arrowed line 6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portion of the hanger bar;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the end portion of the hanger bar in a tilted orientation with a pair of hangers thereon and illustrates the manner in which the hangers are held on the bar when it is in such condition; and

FIGURE is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 of a slightly modified version of the hanger bar.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG- URES 1 and 3, numeral 10 designates the container assembly of the invention. It includes generally a container 12 and a hanger bar 14 removably mounted in the container. The container assembly is illustrated in the partially open condition in FIGURE 1 with two exemplary hangers 16 hung in place on the bar 14. Numerous like hangers, of course, are supported when the full complement of garments is loaded into the container. In FIGURE 3, the assembly is shown in a completely closed and sealed condition, as when fully loaded and ready for shipment or storage.

The container 12 is formed of a relatively low-cost material, preferably paperboard which has ample compressive strength and is readily available. A single blank of paperboard may be cut and creased to provide, when properly folded and with certain portions secured to one another, a container 12 of the desired configuration and physical properties.

As illustrated, the container 12 is rectangular in cross section and includes four generally upstanding sidewall panels 18zz-d. These panels are hingedly connected at three of their corners and at the remaining corner, a narrow connecting panel 20 hingedly connected to the panel at 18b overlaps the panel 18d and is secured thereto by any suitable means, as by staples 22. For purpose of strengthening the sidewall panels 18a and 18b which mount the hanger bar 14, a pair of reinforcing panels 24a and 24b are provided. These latter panels are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the sidewall panels 18a and 18b, respectively, and are folded down along the outsides thereof for a short distance and secured thereto, as by glue (FIG- URE 2). By making use of these reinforcing panels, a somewhat lighter material may be used in the formation of the container, than would otherwise be the case, thereby etfecting a savings in material costs.

In use, it is desired that the ends of the container 12 be closed and sealed. To accomplish this, cover flaps 30a and 30b are hingedly connected to the reinforcing panels 24a and 24b at the lower ends of the latter and are folded upwardly in overlapping relationship with the panels 24a and 24b as illustrated in FIGURE 3, and then folded inwardly along the hinge lines 32a and 32b adjacent the upper ends of the sidewall panels 18a and 18b. The other two cover flaps 30c and 30d are folded down over the top of the container and, as with the bottom flaps 26a and 26b, their ends abut one another. Finally, the top of the container is sealed by the strip 33 of tape extending over the joint between the flaps 30c and 30d and at least a short distance down the sides of the cover flaps 30a and and 30b.

Similarly, at the bottom of the container, bottom flaps 26a-d are hingedly connected to respective ones of the sidewall panels 18a-d and are arranged to be folded inwadly to the position shown in FIGURE 1. In this connection, the flaps 26c and 26d are folded inwardly, and then flaps 26a and 26b are likewise folded inwardly on the outside of the former to positions at right angles to the sidewall panels. The outer flaps 26a and 26b are sized so that their terminal ends abut one another. With the flaps so positioned, the joint is sealed and the bottom flaps held in place by a strip 28 of suitable tape.

The size of the container 12 is governed by the size and number of the garments to be stored therein. It is to be noted in this connection that the height of this container and its length, i.e., the dista ce between the sidewalls 180 and 18d, may be changed without changing the dimensions of the hanger bar 14.

The hanger bar 14 comprises an elongated hanger-receiving member 34 with identical supports 36 at its opposite ends for mounting the member in the container. Both the member 34 and the supports 36 may be advantageously formed of a thermoplastic such as high impact polystyrene. It is desirable that the member be formed of a minimum amount of material, yet retain its shape when supporting hangers. To this end, the member 34 is generally channel-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIGURE 7, having a top flange 38 and side flanges 40. To further enhance strength, stiffener flanges 42 are formed integrally with the side flanges 40 at their terminal ends and curve outwardly land upwardly. In some cases, as when the member 34 is relatively long, it may be reinforced by a correspondingly shaped channel section 44 (FIGURE 10) secured to the interior of the member and extending over at least .a portion of its length.

Each of the supports 36 is arranged to seat snugly over the top of its corresponding reinforced sidewall portion afforded by the combined thicknesses of the sidewall panels 18a and 18b and their reinforcing panels 24a and 24b. The supports 36 are substantially wider than the member 34 and each includes inner and outer flanges 46 and 48 spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the thickness of each of the reinforced wall portions 18a, 24a and 18b, 24b and a top connecting web 50. Preferably, as shown in FIGURE 5, the inner flange 46 has a height greater than that of the outer flange 48.

For convenience of manufacture, the supports 36 are here formed separately of the member 34 and then secured thereto, although the entire hanger bar 14 may be formed as an integral member. To insure strong connections between the members 34 and the supports 36, the supports are provided with pairs of laterally spaced angular mounting brackets 52 and an intermediate support post 54, as shown in FIGURES 5, 6, and 8. Each bracket 52 has a downwardly projecting flange 52a and a laterally projecting flange 52b, the two flanges 52b projecting oppositely and horizontally when in place on the container. The brackets 52 and post 54 project inwardly from the inner flange 46 and the tops of the flanges 52b of brackets 52 are disposed flush with the top of the web 50. When each of the supports 36 is properly assembled with the member 34, the depending side flanges 52a of brackets 52 firmly engage the side flanges and the lower surface of the member 34 rests on the posts and the upper surface slightly below the webs 50 of the supports 36 (FIG- URE 5). To further enhance the strength of the connection, the contacting surfaces of the member 34 and brackets 52 and post 54 are glued to one another.

The hanger bar 14 of the invention is constructed and arranged so as to be capable of being used to advantage in a conveying system for the garments. A conveying system may typically include a shaped transfer member (not shown) of rectangular cross section for mounting the hanger bar 14. To provide for such mounting, the flanges 46 and 48 are formed with correspondingly shaped notches 56 and 58, respectively, aligned with one another along a direction line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member 34. As is apparent, the hanger bar 14 may be positioned over the transfer member where it seats in a balanced condition with the notches 56 and 58 receiving the transfer member.

Conveying systems of the type in which the hanger bar 14 may find use often have upgrade and downgrade sections, as where transfer takes place between different floors of a building. In the course of such transfer, the hanger bars are necessarily tilted, possibly even at substantial angles on the order of 45, in the manner shown in FIGURE 9. It is of importance to prevent the hangers 16 from coming off of the bar 14 when subjected to this tilting and, to accomplish this, stop shoulders 60 and cooperating holding fingers 62 are provided on the brackets 52 of each of the supports. Referring to FIGURES 5 and 8, it may be seen that the stop shoulders 60 face inwardly and are disposed at the side edges of the member 34 at the top thereof.

When the hanger bar 14 is tilted, as in FIGURE 9, the hook 64 on the end hanger abuts both shoulders 60 at that end and the fingers 62 engage over the adjacent portions of the book. In order to maintain this hook in engagement with the top flange 38 of the member 34, the vertical spacing between the holding fingers 62 and the flange 38 is approximately equal to the thickness of the hook. With regard to other hangers 16 on the bar, i.e., other than the end hangers 16, their garments rest against the garment in place on the end hanger, as shown in FIGURE 9, and there is no tendency for them to come off of the bar.

Installation of the hanger bar 14 in the container 12 normally is accomplished with the hangers 16 supporting the garments already in place. In practice, this may be quickly and easily accomplished by first forming the container 12 into a tubular configuration with the ends open and then pulling it, bottom first, down and over the hanger bar with the garments. Since the container 12 is formed of paperboard, the sidewalls 18a and 18b readily spring outwardly sufiiciently to accommodate the full length of the hanger bar 14. Once the tops of the container sidewalls 18a and 18b drop below the outer flanges 48 of the supports 36, the sidewalls 18a and 18b spring back in against the inner flanges 46, which, as previously noted, are greater in height. This, in effect, registers the hanger bar 14 so that it may simply be pushed down over the tops of the reinforced sidewall portions 18a, 24a and 18b, 24b of the container to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Entry of the container walls between the flanges 46 and 48 of the supports 36 is facilitated by forming the outer flange 48 with an inner surafce that flares or tapers as at 66.

It is desired that the hanger bar 14 fit snugly on the container 12 and not slip along its sidewalls once installed. Such movement is prevented and a snug fit insured by providing each of the supports 36 with a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of holding ribs or fins 68. Referring to FIGURES S and 6, these ribs 68 project from the opposing surfaces of the flanges 46 and 48 and engage in pressural contact with the adjacent portions of the reinforced sidewalls 18a, 24a and 18b, 24b of the container, the ribs actually biting into the paperboard material, so as to resist slippage.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the ribs 68 of each pair are aligned opposite one another and, in the case of those at the opposite ends of each of the supports 36, they are actually joined together by arch sections 70 that bite into the top of the reinforced sidewalls 18a, 24a and 18b, 24b. Preferably, the ribs extend vertically, and the extent which each projects from its corresponding flange varies from a minimum adjacent its lower end to a maximum adjacent the web 50 that connects the flanges 46 and 48. This tapered configuration insures good holding action and, in addition, enables the supports 36 to accommodate containers of varying wall thickness and still fit snugly.

With the hanger bar 14 seated in place, as in FIGURES l and 2, the ends of the container 12 are closed by folding the cover flaps 30a-d and bottom flaps 26a-d inwardly in the manner previously described and sealing them in place with the strips 28 and 33 of tape. In this connection, it is to be noted that the cover flaps 30a-d, particularly flaps 30a and 30b engage around the supports 36 of the hanger bar in covering relation and retain it snugly seated down over the tops of the corresponding reinforced wall portions 180, 24a and 18b, 24b. By virtue of the construction of the hanger bar 14, the top surface of the member 34 is disposed slightly below the tops of the sidewalls to provide clearance for the hooks 64 on the hangers 16. On the other hand, the cover flaps 30ad are positioned sufficiently close to such top surface of the member 34 as to prevent the hooks from inadvertently coming off as the container assembly is handled.

The garments stored within the container assembly are effectively protected from being soiled since they are sealed therein. Moreover, they hang free on the hangers 16 and thus are not crushed or wrinkled, as is the case when they are folded and put in boxes. In this regard, it is further noted that the stop shoulders 60 on the brackets 52 serve to prevent the garments from being crushed against the sidewalls of the container. Handling of the container assembly is facilitated by virtue of hand grips being afforded by the combined thicknesses of the reinforcing panels 24 and side portions of the cover flaps 30a and 30b.

The container assembly 10 of the invention is highly economical from several standpoints. Both the container 12 and the hanger bar 14 may be made of relatively lowcost materials and by mass production techniques. In addition, the loaded container assemblies may be stacked so as to enable effective use to be made of both storage space and space within shipping vehicles. The garments arrive at their ultimate destination in good condition, having been protected within the container, and there is no need to press or refurbish them.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that this was only by way of example, and that various changes in the details of the constructions and arrangements of the various parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hanger bar for receiving the hooks on hangers to support such hangers carrying garments in a container, compnsmg:

an elongated hanger-receiving member formed of a relatively hard, stiff material;

a pair of inverted U-shaped end supports secured to opposite ends of said member and oriented generally at right angles with respect to said hangerreceiving member, the length of each of said supports from end to end being substantially greater than the width of said hanger-receiving member;

means on said hanger bar at the end portions only forming stop shoulders adjacent to but spaced from each of said end supports along said hanger-receiving member engageable with the end hangers on said member for limiting movement of the hangers toward the adjacent one of said end supports;

and means on said hanger bar at the end portions only engageable with the hooks on the end hangers for maintaining the hooks on said member when the same are engaged with their respective stop shoulders and said member is tilted about a horizontal axis perpendicular to said member.

2. A hanger bar as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said U-shaped end supports includes a pair of substantially parallel depending legs interconnected by a bight and a plurality of thin ribs extending inwardly from and generally perpendicular to the inner surfaces of said U- shaped support in position to reinforce the legs of the U-shaped supports against forces tending to spread them apart and in position to engage with pressural contact the walls of said container.

3. A hanger bar for receiving the hooks on hangers to Support such hangers carrying garments in a container, comprising:

an elongated hanger-receiving member formed of a relatively hard, stiff material;

and a pair of inverted U-shaped end supports secured to opposite ends of said member and oriented generally at right angles with respect to said hanger-receiving member, the length of each of said supports from end to end being substantially greater than the width of said hanger-receiving member;

means on said hanger bar at the end portions only forming a pair of laterally and oppositely projecting flanges adjacent to and inwardly from each of said end supports along said hanger-receiving member, said flanges having top surfaces flush with the top surface of the adjoining U-shaped end support and projecting laterally beyond the sides of the hangerreceiving member, the inner opposing ends of the flanges having terminal portions spaced above the top surface of the hanger receiving member.

4. A hanger bar for receiving the hooks on hangers to support such hangers carrying garments in a container comprising:

an elongated receiving member formed of a relatively hard, stiff material;

a pair of inverted U-shaped end supports secured to opposite ends of said hanger-receiving member and oriented generally at right angles with respect to said member, the length of each of said end supports from end to end being substantially greater than the width of said hanger-receiving member;

each U-shaped end support having a pair of substantially parallel depending legs with the lower edge of each of the depending legs notched and with all of the notches of said hanger bar aligned with one another in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said hanger-receiving member and located beneath the top surface thereof, whereby said hanger bar is adapted to be received by an elongated member of a cross section corresponding to but smaller than that of said notches for mounting the hanger bar.

5. A hanger bar according to claim 4, in which each of said end supports includes a plurality of thin ribs extending inwardly from and generally perpendicular to the inner surfaces of said U-shaped end support at a location to reinforce the legs of the U-shaped member against forces tending to spread the legs apart and also in position to engage with pressural contact the walls of said container.

6. A container assembly for hanger-supported clothing comprising:

a container including a plurality of connected and generally upstanding sidewalls, said container being formed from a paperboard blank which is cut and creased to provide, when folded into container-forming position, four sidewall panels and at least two reinforcing panels integral respectively with two opposite ones of said sidewall panels at the upper ends thereof, said reinforcing panels being folded back into parallel overlapping relationship with upper portions of the corresponding sidewall panels attached thereto;

and a hanger bar including a central, elongated hangerreceiving member formed of a relatively hard, stilf material and a pair of inverted U-shaped end supports located one at each end of said hanger-receiving member, each of said end supports being slidably and removably disposed over the top edge of one of said two opposite sidewalls to engage between the two legs of said U-shaped member a sidewall panel and the associated reinforcing panel and the associated reinforcing panel integral therewith;

and each end support having a plurality of spaced thin reinforcing ribs projecting inwardly from the inner surfaces of said U-shaped end support each rib on one leg of said U-shapcd end support being directly opposite a rib on the other leg of said U-shaped end support to reinforce the legs of the U-shaped support against forces tending to spread the legs apart, said ribs indenting the relatively softer paperboard panels when the end supports are seated On the container sidewalls whereby the end supports are held against movement in a direction parallel to the upper edge of said sidewalls.

7. A container assembly for hanger-supported clothing according to claim 6 that also comprises:

means on said hanger bar forming a pair of laterally and oppositely projecting flanges adjacent to and inwardly from each of said end supports along said hanger-receiving member, said flanges projecting laterally beyond the sides of the hanger-receiving member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1v X.R. 

